Freedom Festival switching to celebration of cultural diversity

The festival, which was born out of a desire to create a lasting legacy from commemorations marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade – the result of a campaign led by city MP William Wilberforce – was felt by many to have lost some of that promise last year with its focus on young pop acts.

But organisers believe they will deliver something which celebrates cultural diversity when the three-day event starts on Thursday, September 1.

The four main elements will be cabaret and comedy at the city hall; art performances in Queen Victoria Square; family entertainment, an open air cinema and giant inflatable in Queens Gardens; with bands, world music and dance in the Fruit Market area.

Hull Council portfolio holder for leisure and culture, Coun Terry Geraghty, said: “This year’s Freedom is going back to its roots and will see a colourful mix of dramatic street theatre, outdoor performances and activities across three sites in the city centre to create a special family-friendly festival experience.”

The programme has been welcomed by one of the event’s founders, Coun John Robinson, who was a key member of the Liberal Democrat administration which launched the festival.

Coun Robinson said he was pleased to see Labour, which took office at the Guildhall in May, continuing to back the festival.

“I’m glad that the investment that’s been put in over the years is bearing fruit,” he said.

“I’m genuinely pleased that the leader of the council is fully behind it. It was a gamble but the investment has paid off.

“I remember when we were having a budget debate earlier in the year a lady was upset with social services and she said ‘how can you justify this’? But I think strategically, for the good of the city and East Yorkshire, it’s been a good investment and we should keep doing it.”

He added: “It’s good they are making it more cultural but I strongly feel we should never let it become something that’s exclusive. It’s got to be something that potentially everybody in the city can enjoy.

“Recent events have shown a city like Hull has to value its sense of inclusion and nobody should feel excluded. Wilberforce was the starting point and let’s see how that can develop.”

Festival-goers will have much to choose from. The Mirazozo inflatable – a 55ft structure that features a maze of winding paths and soaring domes – has previously been shown at the Sydney Opera House, and the festival will also feature a rare UK appearance by French street theatre company Luc Amoros, who will perform their Page Blanche show, a dramatic fusion of dance, music and art.

The eagerly anticipated comedy element starts on opening night with A Taste of Freedom, a selection of the best acts appearing at the festival. This will feature vocals from the 200-strong Freedom Chorus, Hull’s biggest mass choir, and the following day comedy legend Arthur Smith will host Freedom to Laugh, which features a stellar line-up including Ali Cook, Frisky and Mannish, Steve Steen, Andy Smart, Steve Frost and Josie Lawrence.

Festival organisers, Hull Council and Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, have managed to attract significant funding for the event despite the harsh economic climate.

The main backers are the council (£200,000) and the Arts Council of England (£99,999), with additional support from the Business Friend of Freedom sponsors: KC (£12,000); Hull University (£12,000); The Deep (£10,000); Princes Quay (£9,000); Wykeland House (£5,000); Strawberry (£5,000); Hull College (£5,000); Den Interior (£2,500); the Insurance Partnership (£2,000); Force 7 (£1,500); and Newsome Brewery (£1,500).

Other support in kind has come from the university, which has deployed students to design a festival website and film the event, and provided two interns to work on marketing the festival.

VHEY chief executive Janet Reuben said change was part of the ethos: “Freedom aims to bring something new each year and is constantly reinventing itself. This year is no exception as we redraw the concept of the festival to create a spectacular mixed cultural festival led by the arts. Music, comedy and dance will also feature and bring something truly special that cannot be seen anywhere else.”

Tickets for the city hall events cost £12 for Friday and Saturday, or £6 for Friday night. They can be bought online via the council’s website, by calling (01482) 300300, or in person at the Wilson Customer Service Centre in Alfred Gelder Street.

Legacy of slave campaigner

THE Freedom Festival was intended as a legacy to a series of events held in Hull in 2007 to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade, of which city MP William Wilberforce played a key part.

Unlike most other major British ports, Hull did not derive its wealth from the slave trade and in Wilberforce was home to the leading campaigner for its abolition.

Wilberforce, who was born in High Street on August 24, 1759, spent 26 years campaigning against the slave trade until it was outlawed in the Slave Trade Act of 1807.

There are two statues of Wilberforce in Hull – a 102ft monument opposite Queens Gardens and a more humble version in High Street.